Harry Brown

Harry's Story

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A funeral ceremony honoring the life of Harry "Wallace" Brown will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2017 at Sequoyah Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Rice Funeral Service. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Wallace passed away Thursday March 2, 2017 in Claremore. He was 86.
Born Jan. 16, 1931 in Magazine, Ark., Wallace was the son of Claude and Mildred Batman Brown. The family moved to Oklahoma when he was only three years of age. He attended school in both Claremore and Holdenville, where his grandparents lived. They settled in Claremore and founded Mildred's Café. Wallace worked as a cook every day after school in the family restaurant. He was always known to be a hard worker throughout his lifetime. Wallace graduated with the Claremore Class of 1947 and was known to be quite the football player during those days. He was also a lifelong member of Sequoyah Baptist Church where his parents were charter members.
Wallace was known around the Claremore community for driving a big blue delivery truck for Tulsa Tobacco Company throughout the 1960's and 70's. It was Wallace's aunt Imogene that introduced him to a lovely lady named Elna in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He decided to send her yellow roses which led to many trips to Arkansas over a two year period. The couple married June 1, 1987 and made Claremore their home together. Wallace worked for the city as a Claremore Lake ranger for 17 years where he retired. He worked relentlessly keeping the lake area clean and once received an award for his commitment to doing so. Crossword puzzles were one of his favorite pastimes. Wallace also loved fishing and spending time with Dutch, his Weimaraner companion of over 10 years.
Surviving family members include his wife Elna Brown; his three children: Tony Brown and wife Lana, Susan Palmour and husband Mark; and Tim Brown and wife Kim; his stepsons: Allen Williams and wife Kathy; and Michael Williams; ten grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Wallace was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister Bettye Pitts.